Breaking away from cotton

In an effort to reduce ecological and economic burden in Ambegaon and Khamkheda village clusters near Aurangabad, a botany professor, a social welfare body and 176 farming families have undertaken a unique initiative.

In an effort to reduce ecological and economic burden in Ambegaon and Khamkheda village clusters near Aurangabad, a botany professor, a social welfare body and 176 farming families have undertaken a unique initiative. In the district8217;s cotton belt, farmers in eight villages have planted 9,500 mango and sweet lime saplings in the past three months to overcome their dependence on cotton.

8220;The farmers are largely dependent on income from cotton, which they only get after the harvest in February. If irregular rains lead to crop failure or if the seeds have to be sown again, the farmer faces a fund crunch. The fruit trees can be a crucial source of income before and during the sowing season,8221; says Avani Deolankar, botany professor at Aurangabad8217;s Institute of Career Development, who hit upon the idea and raised money for saplings. It helps that Ambegaon, being a plateau, has greater rainwater retention, while the mountainous Khamkheda region is predominantly rainfed, compared to many Aurangabad villages which get sparse rainfall.

Under the guidance of Suhas Asgaonkar, the organisation8217;s agricultural consultant, 2,000 plants were given to 700 farmers in four villages8212;Ambegaon, Khamkheda, Wadi and Dhonkheda8212;last year. This year, the number increased to eight, including Nandeda, Chincholi, Pophala and Morhira.

8220;Cultivating a fruit orchard has always been my dream,8221; says Vasant Thorat of Ambegaon, who has planted 500 sweet lime trees in his 25-acre farm in which he has only grown cotton so far.

While last year the farmers8217; chose vegetables, cereals and ornamental plants, this year the focus has been on fruits. 8220;Fruit orchards have a high yield potential. Each tree is expected to produce around Rs 400 after four-five years. The demand for mosambi plants is the highest, followed by kesar mangoes, chikoos, tamarind and guavas,8221; says Asgaonkar.

8220;I earned around Rs 7,000 as additional income this year,8221; says Thorat. 8220;Planting fruit trees is lucrative because of their low cost-high yield nature. Not much water is required and home-made manure can be used.8221;

This year, Asgaonkar has chalked out a plan of 8220;plantation with cooperation8221;, where the farmers are expected to share the saplings8217; cost before they receive them. But they don8217;t mind; they are banking on the long-term benefits of the drive.